A.I.R.E. is the acronym for Anagrafe degli Italiani Residenti all’Estero, meaning the Registry of Italians Residing Abroad, and it was established on October 27, 1988 (law 470/1988). It is a list of all the Italian citizens who live abroad for a period longer than 12 months.
A.I.R.E. is managed by the italian COMUNI (municipalities) based on data they receive from the Consulates abroad.
Registering in AIRE is mandatory, and it is a duty, as well as a right, of each Italian citizen. It allows access to several consular services and is a prerequisite to be able to exercise important rights such as:
- voting by mail in Italian general elections, as well as in a referendum, and voting to elect Italian members of the European Parliament;
- to apply for a new passport or other travel documents, and some certificates;
- to renew a driver’s license.
Who needs to register
- all Italian citizens who transfer their residency abroad for a period of at least 12 months;
- all Italian citizens who already live abroad, either because they were born there, or because they became Italian citizens later in life, regardless of how their citizenship was acquired.
Who DOES NOT need to regsiter
- Italian citizens who move abroad for a period of less than 12 months;
- seasonal workers;
- employees of the Italian government stationed abroad.
Requests for AIRE registration must be submitted to the Consulate within 90 days of arrival in the Consular jurisdiction. Registration in AIRE results in automatic cancellation from the Italian Comune’s A.P.R (Anagrafe della Popolazione Residente), meaning they will no longer be registered in the municipality they came from.